Uziel, Gabriel (Gabi)
Son of Leah and Joseph. He was born on the 29th of Cheshvan 5744 (29.10.1983) in Tiberias. Brother to Merav, Gilad and the twins Kinneret and Tamar. On November 12, 2001, Gaby enlisted in the Golani Brigade, underwent training as a combat soldier and joined Battalion 51, the First Bounty Regiment. He was a beloved and responsible soldier. On September 4, 2003, Gabi embarked on a multi-force arrest operation under the command of the commander of the “Menashe” Brigade (Jenin), Colonel Dan Hefetz. The 51nd Battalion and the Golani Brigade patrol battalion participated, as well as a special artillery unit. During the night, the forces conducted many arrests against the Islamic Jihad infrastructure in the Jenin area. On the strength of the company of the 51st Battalion of Golani and Gabi, the task was to arrest a senior Islamic Jihad official who, according to security sources, planned to send a car bomb to Israel at that time. The soldiers entered the house where the wanted man was staying and arrested him along with three other suspects. At around 6:00 AM, when the forces were about to leave the neighborhood, terrorists opened fire on them from several directions in the city of Jenin. Upon receiving the order to evacuate the force, Gabi jumped on his own initiative to the cover crew and activated a “Negev” machine gun. When he was exposed to enemy fire, he continued to cover up his comrades and even improved his position until he was hit by the terrorists’ fire and killed. The soldiers responded with fire, but did not identify the source of the shooting. Gabriel (Gabi) was killed in a battle in the Jenin area on 7 Elul, September 4, 2003, at the age of 20. He was buried in the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, and he was survived by his parents, brother and three sisters. A citation reads: “In these two events, St.-Sgt. Gabriel Uziel, of blessed memory, displayed a spirit of combat, courage and personal example under fire in battle. In his behavior Gabriel emphasized the value of evil, devotion to the task, and the saving of human life. Signed: Major General Benny Gantz, GOC Northern Command.” The citation was given to his parents in April 2004 after Gabi’s death.
